I am in the process of writing an interactive-novel-project. Part of the project is the book I'm writing, the other is full of other artistic stuff I have produced, pictures, poems and music. Which brings me to my next point I have asked some great pianists from the society, actually all are society members, to play some pieces I wrote.

I am roughly halfway done writing the book. If you are interesting in having a look, here is a link:

It looks like a nice project. I did not know you are into writing too ! Your humorous text shows skill and I'm sure it will get you some backing. Did you do the drawing yourself too ?I hope for the best and will record my piece soon.

Thanks! I am happy to say the project is already 10% funded, and it has only been 2 days since it launched!

@ Chris

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It looks like a nice project. I did not know you are into writing too ! Your humorous text shows skill and I'm sure it will get you some backing. Did you do the drawing yourself too ?I hope for the best and will record my piece soon.

Thanks for the compliment, I tried to make my writing fancy, mind you I'm lousy at pitching! As for the drawing, I only wish I could take credit for drawing this! Alas, it is the work of Benjamin Fernandez, my illustrator!

Recorded in a studio today. Man, studio hours flyby! Recorded three pieces, an didn't get them nearly how I wanted them.. but I am quite happy with at least one of them

I think I'll share the other two here on PS as I will only donate one to the project.

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

Here is a studio recording of a piece I wrote called "Stories of a Century." It is dedicated to my Grandfather who will turn 100 on next St. Pat's Day! He is a wonderful storyteller and so this piece should hopefully convey that

Had some trouble with the middle section, and my regrets are that the repeats mostly sound the same, and I should have used the soft pedal for the last section.. Hope it still sounds passable

That is a beautiful and affecting piece ! Your grampa should be mighty pleased.The sound is pretty good though there seems to be some ringing noise around the strings which I had not expected in a studio recording.Also, some of your accents seem a bit out of control. Sometimes in strange places, sometimes too harsh. Apart from that, very well performed.

@ MonicaI hope my grandpa likes it!Thanks for trying to download it, I wonder what is wrong with it, it's not a particulary large file? I've had times where I try to download attachments and I only receive a partial piece of the file, odd.

@ Chris

Glad you like it, despite its flaws. I recorded this on a Yamaha Upright. A U1, I believe. My engineer Xu has two pianos in his studio, this Upright and a Yamaha C3 Grand. I tried it out first on the grand. The result, I am sorry to say I didn't like. I tried to play piano, but even though I pressed the keys down, not a sound was uttered. The Upright was much better at playing softer. But, It still takes time to adjust to a new piano and I think this recording proves I was too rushed. The other two pieces I recorded were on the grand.

So I'll share now the second piece, "In the Night." Here I try to use a legato left hand and prominent melody. It is not a part of this project, just an extra piece I composed.

@ MonicaI hope my grandpa likes it!Thanks for trying to download it, I wonder what is wrong with it, it's not a particulary large file? I've had times where I try to download attachments and I only receive a partial piece of the file, odd.

Attachment:

In the Night.MP3

Yes, I couldn't download it from here but I've just sent the file (also this second one) to my email, so I think I can listen to both recordings on my phone when I go to the gym shortly.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Anyway, they are pretty pieces - I really like all the harmonies and chord transitions. However, I felt like it was all mostly accompaniment...like the melody line was missing. Or it could be that I just couldn't hear a melody note brought out loud enough in the chords. Sometimes I couldn't tell if I was hearing a melody or if it was a secondary melody. I kept thinking that the music would be very nice if you wrote another part to go on top. Or maybe just try to bring out the melody notes more. I hope you aren't upset....I know you can write very nice music, and these two pieces are nice too - I'm just offering my two cents since I know you like honest feedback.

All this talk of storytelling in music makes me think of Edward MacDowell.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Thanks for having a listen. And yes I like honest feedback I agree with your assesment I think these performances needed to be crafted a lot more, at present they are basically just played literally. A part on the top would be interesting, hadn't thought of that. I haven't heard much of MacDowell, will have to look more into him!

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

these are nice performances. I appreciate the "3D" level approach of voices on Stories of a Century.And In the night has a quite interesting atmosphere.

@ Luis,

Thanks for listening. Yes, I was wondering if anyone would pick up that, the 3D aspect! I think I could have done a lot more with the repeats and dynamics, but until it is revisited, it stands for better or worse. I wish I could have sampled the grand for the last (and lowest) note, the upright's lower register is not puny, but not "growly" as a note we heard in the Chopin piece Monica posted in the AR

In the Night is all about the atmosphere my downfall here is I tried to hard to make the left hand legato and didn't focus on the balance between the left and right hands!

@Chris

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The sound is pretty good though there seems to be some ringing noise around the strings which I had not expected in a studio recording.

It may be the compression of the files, as with both of these recordings the uncompressed versions were compressed here down to 32 Kbit/s. I realize encoding doesn't really have an effect on the sound, but when its extremely low... perhaps yes...

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

Ok, here is my recording for your book. I did not upload it onto the site like we discussed, so it's just an attachment. I wasn't sure how you wanted me to send it to you, or if you want any other members to critique it in case it's not right. I think it's okay, though. I guess you will let me know....

Happy Easter, again. For real this time!

EDIT: Sorry, Riley, I've changed my mind. After hearing this recording a couple hours after I made it, I'm not happy with it so I've taken it off. It's just so hard to get everything perfect, but I'll try for a better recording soon.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Thanks for making a recording. I wish I could hear it, but I look forward to whatever version you are happy with. I know you have such a high level of quality control, sometimes it makes me embarrassed just to submit the recordings I submit..

Happy Easter! That bunny graphic is cool! I didn't receive (or eat) any Chocolate Easter Bunnies, or do any Easter Egg Hunts , but I met some friends and made a lot of progress in my novel. It is nearly finished. One last chapter to go And my kickstarter project is almost over, too. Not that it's anywhere close to its funding goal..

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

I was pretty good yesterday - only ate the ears off a chocolate bunny. But there are too many leftovers. I hope my son with the sweet tooth will hurry and eat it all so I don't have to see it. Too tempting!

That's nice that you are almost done with your book. I just have a slight problem....one of the legs fell off my piano (the one supporting the keyboard by the high notes) and now the piano is lying on its side (the high end of the keyboard is on the floor and the low end is pointing towards the ceiling). It still plays though, so I will try to make my new recording while I sit on the floor next to the keyboard and then lean way over sideways so I can play the keys. Pedaling might be a little hard because I'll have to lift my leg up pretty high in the air to reach the pedal (which is currently above my head when I'm sitting on the floor), but I think I will manage and should have the recording done in the next day or so.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

But actually, I meant that the other leg fell off. The one at the end of the piano, so now my poor piano rests on the floor on the pointy end and the keyboard is way up high. I have to climb up a ladder to reach the keys. But I still think I will have no problem.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

I meant that when the keyboard is sloping the way you said, then if you play a sequence of notes which descends (towards the bass), it is at the same time ascending (because your fingers are going uphill), and vice versa.

Leglessness is often a sign of overindulging in alcohol. Did you spill some booze into the piano? You need to be more careful, especially when it's not used to it.

I was pretty good yesterday - only ate the ears off a chocolate bunny. But there are too many leftovers. I hope my son with the sweet tooth will hurry and eat it all so I don't have to see it. Too tempting!

I am envious of you, as you say you have eaten part of a chocolate bunny. As fate would have it, March 31, I had nada!

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That's nice that you are almost done with your book. I just have a slight problem....one of the legs fell off my piano (the one supporting the keyboard by the high notes) and now the piano is lying on its side (the high end of the keyboard is on the floor and the low end is pointing towards the ceiling). It still plays though, so I will try to make my new recording while I sit on the floor next to the keyboard and then lean way over sideways so I can play the keys. Pedaling might be a little hard because I'll have to lift my leg up pretty high in the air to reach the pedal (which is currently above my head when I'm sitting on the floor), but I think I will manage and should have the recording done in the next day or so.

O Dear!! I am very sorry that a leg fell off your piano. Surely it isn't a case where the Piano leg cannot support the weight of the piano with the other two legs?! Well. Not to worry about the pedalling. If you can play it in this state (please don't if it causes you excessive stress) and.. I know this is asking a lot, but if you could post a picture of your piano, that would be most intriguing to see where the fracture is on the leg.

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Don't worry. Next year, the other leg will fall off and you can play it lying on the floor. After that you'll have to think of another April's Fool joke.

Oh, this is a joke? I do hope so!

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

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